Rats are some of the most destructive pests that you could have the misfortune of sharing your home with. Rats are potential disease carriers and many of these can be transmuted to humans including plague, Salmonellosis, rat-bite fever, Leptospirosis and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. To avoid all this, it is important that you know how to get rid of rats with rat control measures.
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Common Rat Damage on Property
Diseases aside, these vermin wreak indiscriminate havoc in homes that they inhabit. A rat infestation not only a serious potential health risk but is a serious threat to your home and property. Some of the common rat damage reported by rat exterminators in Ontario includes;
Chewed Electrical Insulation
Like all rodents, rat teeth continue to grow for their entire lifespan. The rodents need to chew and gnaw incessantly to keep their teeth sharp and at the right size. Rats seem to enjoy chewing on electrical insulation and experts theorize it might be because of the texture. The rats will gnaw on car wires if outdoors which could lead to unforeseen and expensive mechanical bills. They also chew on wires in your attic exposing live wires. The exposed wires are a fire hazard and could lead to short circuits and unexpected black-outs.
Damaged Attic Insulation
Rats love to use attic insulation or insulation in crawl spaces to build their nests. They chew, tear, gnaw and otherwise damage the insulation. This damage obviously comes with energy inefficiency issues and most homeowners with rats nesting in the attic experience higher heating and cooling bills. Torn insulation and exposed live wires is also a perfect combination for a house fire.
Damaged Roofs
Rats are intelligent, dexterous and persistent and are very good at finding weaknesses on your property. Black rats are notorious for chewing through water-damaged eaves and roof shingles to gain access. These new entrances leave your home exposed to more rodents. Rats also expand existing gaps, cracks and holes in your roof to create entryways into the attic. A leaky roof can cause extensive damage during the rainy season especially if you are unaware of the problem.
Compromised Foundation
Although rare, burrowing rats such as the Norway rat can cause serious structural issues by burrowing. Some of this damage is so bad that exterminators have seen utility pipes, doors, windows and even interior walls physically shift on account of the burrowing critters. This is most likely during a prolonged and large invasion.
Lawn Damage
Burrowing rats can be frustrating while you attempt to maintain a beautiful lawn or garden. These expert foragers feed on anything they can find on your property which often includes seedlings and bulbs. The rats also create unsightly holes in your beautiful yard and can be a serious problem if the infestation is large enough. These holes are also tripping hazards and can damage expensive lawn equipment.
Rat Toilets
Rats defecate and urinate as they move and leave unsightly and smelly evidence of their presence and feeding habits. A single rat can defecate up to 60 times in one day so this is a problem that you won’t be able to ignore for too long. Rat toilets are also good breeding grounds for pathogens including tapeworms, salmonella and hemorrhagic fever. These diseases can be spread by coming into contact with the feces or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Some air-borne pathogens may also inhabit the rat toilet and can be inhaled or spread around the house via your HVAC system.
Hire a Rat Exterminator to Get Rid of Rats on Your Property
If the rats haven’t found their way into the house, you can rest assured that they will eventually break in. these rodents are expert at finding weaknesses and will eventually find a ¼ inch hole to fit through especially if you haven’t been on top of your repairs.
DIY extermination is ineffective and dangerous. You risk harming non-target animals and humans if you are not careful about using rodenticides and traps. There are also strict restrictions on which rodenticides and traps you can use and precisely how to use them. A licensed rat exterminator in Toronto not only removes the existing rats but also disinfects to prevent diseases and rodent-proof the property to prevent an invasion in the future. A professional is the only viable solution for a rat problem. Call us now: 647-496-2211
